US Veterans Health Administration Hiring For Health Science Specialist at White River Junction, VT, United States Full Time

Job Description

Duties

Summary

These positions are located in White River Junction, VT working for VISN 1 Medical Center/ Healthcare System Research Service that conducts health services research and/or clinical trials, and basic science research. The functions and responsibilities of this service are both local and national in scope and include both national research projects and operational evaluations related to VA planning and management.

Responsibilities

NOTE: This is a TERM appointment (not-to-exceed 4 years). Term appointments are non-status, nonpermanent appointments of limited duration (more than 1 year but not more than 4). Term employees are eligible to earn leave and generally have the same benefits as permanent employees including health and life insurance, within-grade increases and Federal Employees Retirement System and Thrift Savings Plan coverage. Term appointments may be extended without further competition (up to the 4 year maximum). The appointment to a Term position does not confer eligibility for promotion or reassignment to other positions or the ability to be non-competitively converted to permanent employment.

This position involves a multi-grade career ladder. The major duties listed below represent the full performance level of GS-09. At the GS-07 grade level, you will perform assignments of a more limited scope and with less independence. You will progressively acquire the background necessary to perform at the full performance level of GS-09. Promotion is at the discretion of the supervisor and is contingent upon satisfactory performance, availability of higher level work, and availability of funds.

Duties include but may not be limited to the following:

Research Program Planning Work

• Responsible for drawing conclusions, making recommendations, taking actions, and otherwise accomplishing work that significantly affects the research program
• applications.
• Coordinates the studies, assists in the development of new collaborations and
• grants for furthering strategic planning objectives for Research.
• Provides the Principal Investigators (PIs) and other members of the research service with necessary information for the submission of research protocols, grants, scholarly papers, professional presentations, and management reports.

Study Recruitment

• Participates in staff discussions to analyze data and plan further research and advises and assists PIs in the development of research data control activities.
• Coordinates all aspects of multiple research projects and for day-to-day project management, ensuring a continuous flow of subjects enrolled into the study.
• Develops a system for tracking all mailings and replies; organize recruitment strategies and maintain contact with potential subjects until they are recruited or decline participation.

Data Gathering and Compliance Monitoring

• Responsible for resolving routine matters concerning data collection and
• verification, literature searches, and creates graphical data displays.
• Develops, implements, and maintains database systems for data collection, tracking, and reporting; and performs analysis of the health science research programs and to coordinate individual project budgets.
• Proofreads and edits drafts of evaluation materials (e.g., surveys, reports) and makes
• recommendations to senior staff regarding the clarity of the materials, their organization and layout.

Work Schedule: Full-Time, Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 4:30 pm

Recruitment & Relocation Incentives: Not authorized

Financial Disclosure Report: Not Required

Travel Required

Occasional travel – You may be expected to travel for this position.

Supervisory status

No

Promotion Potential

9

• Job family (Series)

  0601 General Health Science

• Requirements
  

  Requirements

  Conditions of Employment

  • You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job
  • Subject to a background/security investigation
  • Designated and/or random drug testing may be required
  • Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959
  • May be required to serve a probationary period
  • Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process

  Qualifications

  To apply for this position, you must meet the following requirements:

  This position requires a Basic Education Requirement.

  BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT: Must have a Bachelor’s or graduate/higher level degree: major study in an academic field related to the medical field, health sciences or allied sciences appropriate to the work of the position. Note: You must provide a copy of your transcripts to receive consideration.

  IN ADDITION TO MEETING THE BASIC EDUCATION REQUIREMENT, YOU MUST ALSO MEET ONE OF THE FOLLOWING:
  
  
  GS-07 EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level (GS-5) in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: assisting in the coordination of research and is responsible for drawing conclusions, making recommendations, taking actions; coordinates studies and manages administrative aspects of multiple research projects and is responsible for day-to-day project management.

  -OR-

  EDUCATION: Successfully completed one year of graduate-level education in a Major study – education or a subject area related to the position to be filled.

  -OR-

  Superior Academic Achievement at the GS-7 level: (SAA) at the baccalaureate level in the coursework detailed above is fully qualifying. Applicants who wish to apply under this provision must submit proof from their educational institution that they meet one of the criteria listed below. To qualify for SAA, applicants must have completed all the requirements for a bachelor’s degree in a curriculum that is qualifying for the position to be filled and meet one of the following:
  1. Rank in the upper one-third of your class in the college, university or major subdivision.
  2. A grade-point average of “B” (a GPA of 2.95 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all completed undergraduate courses, or those completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
  3. A grade point average of “B+” (a GPA of 3.45 or higher out of a possible 4.0) for all courses in your major field of study, or those courses in your major completed in the last two years of undergraduate study.
  4. Membership in a national honor society (other than freshman honor societies) recognized by the Association of College Honor Societies. For a list of recognized honor societies please visit http://www.achsnatl.org/quick_link.asp.
  For more information regarding SAA please visit http://www.opm.gov/qualifications/SEC-II/s2-e5.asp#e4f.

  -OR-

  COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education and experience. Education must be in a major study – education or a subject area related to the position to be filled and specialized experience. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

  GS-09 EXPERIENCE: You must have at least one (1) full year of specialized experience equivalent to at least the next lower grade level in the Federal service that includes performing the following duties: coordination of research and is responsible for drawing conclusions, making recommendations, taking actions; coordinates studies and manages administrative aspects of multiple research projects and is responsible for day-to-day project management.

  -OR-

  EDUCATION: Successfully completed master’s or equivalent graduate degree or 2 full years of progressively higher level graduate education in a major study – education or a subject area related to the position to be filled.

  -OR-

  COMBINATION OF EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE: Equivalent combinations of successfully completed graduate-level education (beyond the first year) and experience. Education must be in a major study – education or a subject area related to the position to be filled and specialized experience. Such education must demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to do the work.

  You will be rated on the following Competencies as part of the assessment questionnaire for this position:

  • Analytical Reasoning
  • Communication
  • Manages and Organizes Information
  • Project Management
  • Research

  IMPORTANT: A full year of work is considered to be 35-40 hours of work per week. All experience listed on your resume must include the month and year start/end dates. Part-time experience will be credited on the basis of time actually spent in appropriate activities. Applicants wishing to receive credit for such experience must indicate clearly the nature of their duties and responsibilities in each position and the number of hours a week spent in such employment.

  Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religious; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

  For more information on these qualification standards, please visit the United States Office of Personnel Management’s website at https://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/classification-qualifications/general-schedule-qualification-standards/.
  

  Education

  IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

  NOTE: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.
  

  Additional information

  Physical Requirements: The work is primarily sedentary, although some slight physical effort may be required such as standing, walking, bending, and lifting of light items.

  Telework: VA supports the use of telework as a way to help attract and retain talented individuals in public service, increase worker productivity, and better prepare the agency to operate during emergencies. This position may be authorized for telework. Telework eligibility will be discussed during the interview process.

  Receiving Service Credit for Earning Annual (Vacation) Leave: Federal Employees earn annual leave at a rate (4, 6 or 8 hours per pay period) which is based on the number of years they have served as a Federal employee. VA may offer newly-appointed Federal employee’s credit for their job-related non-federal experience or active duty uniformed military service. This credited service can be used in determining the rate at which they earn annual leave. Such credit must be requested and approved prior to the appointment date and is not guaranteed.

  Special Employment Consideration: VA encourages persons with disabilities to apply, including those eligible for hiring under 5 CFR 213.3102(u), Schedule A, Appointment of persons with disabilities (i.e., intellectual disabilities, severe physical disabilities, or psychiatric disabilities), and/or disabled veterans with a compensable service-connected disability of 30% or more. For more information on how to apply using this appointment authority via the Selective Placement Coordinator within the office, contact the facility Human Resources Department at (802) 295-9363.

  It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

  Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

  The Interagency Career Transition Assistance Plan (ICTAP) and Career Transition Assistance Plan (CTAP) provide eligible displaced Federal competitive service employees with selection priority over other candidates for competitive service vacancies. To be qualified you must submit appropriate documentation and be found well-qualified (have a final rating of 85 or more before any Veterans preference points) for this vacancy. Information about ICTAP and CTAP eligibility is on OPM’s Career Transition Resources website at http://www.opm.gov/policy-data-oversight/workforce-restructuring/employee-guide-to-career-transition/.

  This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies.

  If you are unable to apply online or need to fax a document you do not have in electronic form, view the following link for information regarding an Alternate Application.

  How You Will Be Evaluated

  You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.
  IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE WILL NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. If your resume does not support your questionnaire answers, we will not allow credit for your response(s).

  Your responses to the assessment questionnaire will be reviewed along with the information provided in your resume and supporting documentation to determine if you are qualified for the position. If, after reviewing your resume and/or supporting documentation, a determination is made that you have inflated your qualifications and or experience, your rating may be lowered and/or you may lose consideration for this position. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect your eligibility.

  Candidates who apply under All U.S. Citizens announcements will be rated and ranked using Category Rating procedures. Qualified candidates will be assigned to a quality category. The categories are defined as follows:

  • Best qualified – applicants possessing experience that substantially exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are highly proficient in all requirements of the job and can perform effectively in the position;
  • Highly qualified – applicants possessing experience that exceeds the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in most of the requirements of the job;
  • Well qualified – applicants possessing experience that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors, and who are proficient in some, but not all, of the requirements of the job; and
  • Qualified – applicants possessing experience and/or education that meets the minimum qualifications of the position including all selective factors.

  Application of Veterans’ Preference: Category rating and selection procedures place those with veteran’s preference above non-preference eligibles within each category. Preference eligible applicants that meet the eligibility and qualification requirements and who have a compensable service-connected disability of at least 10 percent are listed in the highest quality category (except when the position being filled is scientific or professional at the GS-09 grade level or higher).

  Background checks and security clearance

  Security clearance

  Not Required
  

  Drug test required

  No
  

  Position sensitivity and risk

  Non-sensitive (NS)/Low Risk
  

  Trust determination process

  Suitability/Fitness

• Required Documents
  

  Required Documents

  IMPORTANT: Please ensure your resume include up-to-date contact information (phone number(s), email address(s), etc.)

  To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

  • Resume
  • Transcript

  The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please use this checklist to ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50’s (current/former Federal employees), documentation to support Veterans Preference or ICTAP/CTAP documentation (for displaced Federal employees).

  • Cover Letter
  • DD-214/ Statement of Service
  • Disability Letter (VA)
  • OF-306
  • Other (1)
  • Other (2)
  • Resume
  • Separation Notice (RIF)
  • SF-15
  • SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
  • Transcript

  Veterans’ Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 “Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference” with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans’ Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets – Veterans – Job Seekers – Veterans’ Preference.
  

  If you are relying on your education to meet qualification requirements:
  

  Education must be accredited by an accrediting institution recognized by the U.S. Department of Education in order for it to be credited towards qualifications. Therefore, provide only the attendance and/or degrees from schools accredited by accrediting institutions recognized by the U.S. Department of Education.
  Failure to provide all of the required information as stated in this vacancy announcement may result in an ineligible rating or may affect the overall rating.

• Benefits
  

  Benefits

  A career with the U.S. Government provides employees with a comprehensive benefits package. As a federal employee, you and your family will have access to a range of benefits that are designed to make your federal career very rewarding. Opens in a new windowLearn more about federal benefits.
  Review our benefits
  
  Eligibility for benefits depends on the type of position you hold and whether your position is full-time, part-time, or intermittent. Contact the hiring agency for more information on the specific benefits offered.

Help

This job is open to

• The public
  

  U.S. citizens, nationals or those who owe allegiance to the U.S.